Dear Manish,
I loved Kajol’s green lehenga in DDLJ, the shaded saris in almost all Yashraj movies, and I especially love the saris Kareena Kapoor wears on the red carpet (all yours, of course). You’ve made an easy transition from costume designing to creating wearable clothes. You continue dressing gorgeous actors in gorgeous clothes, and bridezillas insist on wearing a Manish Malhotra for their wedding. So what I didn’t understand is why you, of all designers, needed a sponsor for your Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2010 show.
While I did like some of the clothes in your collection, I was a tad disappointed. Using maroon, blue and black, you created a very wearable evening wear collection. But you put hammered everything possible into this collection—from silhouettes to embroidery.
I saw harem pants, salwars, kurtas, flowing skirts, lehengas, baby doll kurtis, shaded net and chiffon saris and velvet borders. For embroidery, again you used everything—zari, crystals, sequins and brocade.
The missing link was that there was no link. There was everything, yet not one concrete idea I could use for the upcoming festive season, nor a single “Wow!” moment.
Manish, people will continue to buy your clothes, and Bollywood will continue to hire you, but here’s some unsolicited advice: experiment, go crazy, think beyond the usual!
Looking forward to your next collection already.
With love,
Speaking Chic team